On February 17, a traditional pen-brush opening ceremony was launched at the Temple dedicated to Chu Van An on Phuong Hoang Mountain, Chi Linh Town, Hai Duong Province.
Pen-brush opening, or “Khai But”, is a tradition which has existed for thousands of years in Vietnam, when scholars and writers penned a line of prose or poetry to begin a new-year writing period.
At Chu Van An Temple, calligrapher Nguyen Dinh Ke performed the four characters, "Quoc Thai Dan An", to convey wishes for a peaceful country and people.
Pupils and students with excellent academic achievements honoured.
At the opening ceremony, businesses supported Chi Linh City's study promotion fund of 800 million VND.
Teacher Chu Van An was born in Thanh Liet Commune, Thanh Tri District, Hanoi, in 1292, during the reign of the Tran dynasty. In his early life, he passed the doctoral examination – “Thai hoc sinh” – but refused to become a mandarin.
Instead, Chu Van An opened a school and began his career as a Confucian teacher. His teaching played an important role in spreading Confucianism into a Buddhist Vietnam at the time.
Under the reign of Emperor Tran Minh Tong (1314 – 1329), he became a teacher at the imperial academy. Under the reign of Emperor Tran Du Tong, he was raised to a high-ranking mandarin. But he later resigned because the king refused his petition of beheading seven sycophant mandarins. He then retreated to Phuong Hoang Mountains in Hai Duong and led the life of a recluse.
Under the pseudonym of Tieu An, which means a secluded lumberjack in the forest, he spent the rest of his life teaching local students, compiling poetry, writing books and treating patients.
On the same day, a similar ceremony was kicked off in the temple of the first Doctor Le Ich Moc, Thuy Nguyen District, Hai Phong City.
The event was attended by educators, retired people, pupils, students, and state and provincial officials.
Chairman of the People's Committee of Thuy Nguyen District beat the drum to open the festival.
The pen-brush opening ceremony aims to promote the studious tradition of the Vietnamese people and honour the country’s education cause.
The festival attracts the participation of many people and tourists.
